An entire Scottish village has been invited to visit Austria next year, as part of a new tongue-in-cheek “cultural initiative”.
Vienna’s tourist board has trekked all the way over to Dull, located in Perthshire, Scotland, to hand-deliver wax-sealed invitations and goodie bags to around 100 residents.
It has formally requested that they spend a weekend in the capital next January, which is often seen as the dullest time of year.
“While much of the world embraces Dry January and gym routines, Viennabegins the year in celebration mode, with more than 400 balls held each year, one of the world’s largest ice rinks and UNESCO-recognised culinary treasures,” the tourist board states.
“And who better to judge whether Vienna is ‘dull’ than the citizens of Dull themselves?”
A personalised visit to Austria
Dull has garnered global attention in recent years and is best known for being paired with the community of Boring in Oregon, the US.
However, the Vienna Tourist Board says that while Dull may be “picturesque” and enveloped in lush countryside, it lacks theatres, galleries, concert halls and cultural venues.
Guests from Dull will therefore be put up at the luxury Hotel Imperial, one of Vienna’s most iconic hotels which has previously hosted Queen Elizabeth II and The Rolling Stones.
Each visitor will also receive a personalised itinerary based on their own interests. This includes tours of the Kunsthistorisches Museum and Naturhistorisches Museum, dance classes, ice skating at the Vienna Ice Dream, a tour of Schönbrunn Palace, and much more.
The Vienna Tourist Board says guests may even be able to have a meeting with the UK Ambassador toAustria, Lindsay Skoll.
Bringing Dull to Vienna
“We’re proud of our museums, concerts, balls and winter magic, but we also enjoy a good sense of humour,” says Norbert Kettner, CEO of the Vienna Tourist Board.
“January is often considered the dullest month of the calendar, which is exactly why we wanted to bring Dull to Vienna.”
Kettner’s says the campaign is the “perfect opportunity” to show how vibrant the winter season can be.
“We hope many residents will join us and we’re eager to hear their expert judgment,” he adds. ”
With this initiative, the tourist board is calling on Dull residents to confirm that Vienna isn’t dull - even in January.